King Cruiser Wreck

The King Cruiser Wreck is a deep, multi-level steel car and passenger ferry resting upright on a sandy seabed; its vertical port and starboard sides, extensive soft-corals and encrusting sponges, and abundant schooling fish make the structure and fish life the primary attractions. Access is by boat via a mooring buoy with divers typically descending a stern mooring line. The wreck sits with its keel at about 32–33 m and its highest points around 10–15 m, with most of the structure below 25 m. Visibility is often 10–30 m and water temperatures are generally about 27–30 °C. Currents can be moderate to strong and divers may drift with the flow; the depth, potential currents and sharp metal edges mean this site is recommended for advanced divers. Be alert for venomous species such as lionfish and scorpionfish, avoid penetration where collapsed sections are present, maintain good buoyancy, and perform safety stops while following the mooring line or drifting back to the boat. The 85 m steel ferry struck Anemone Reef and sank in May 1997 while en route between Phuket and the Phi Phi Islands; all passengers were evacuated. The wreck is multi-leveled with a visible car deck, engine room and bow loading ramp, though deterioration has restricted penetration.